Tom Neziol, 39, was Cougars' associate coach

The Burlington Cougars hockey family is in shock after learning of the sudden death of the Jr. A team's associate head coach Tom Neziol.

A seventh-round draft pick of the NHL New Jersey Devils in 1987, Neziol, who turned 39 in August, played university hockey at Miami of Ohio following his rep and junior career in Burlington.

"He was a true-blue type of guy," said his father Ed. "He was quite happy helping kids on their way to getting scholarships. He loved coaching -- not necessarily the business part -- but the game itself."

In fact, said his father, Tom was probably as adept at baseball as hockey, but concentrated on the latter because "of his love for the game."

Tom was a member of several Burlington rep baseball teams, one of which went on to win a provincial title in the early '80s.

"He pitched, played some second base and the outfield," said his father. "He could really hammer the ball."

After four years earning a business degree and playing hockey at Miami University in Ohio, Tom spent four seasons in the East Coast Hockey League, the last year in Tallahassee, Fla. in 1994-95. An Assumption Secondary School graduate, Tom also was an assistant coach with the ECHL Mobile, Ala., franchise for two seasons.

Cougars' head coach Wes Wiseman was grooming Tom for the head coaching job in Burlington, with Tom taking over as soon as next season, Wiseman said, when tragedy struck Friday.

Adding to the shock was the fact Neziol was in excellent shape.

"Tom was 39 going on 29," said Wiseman, describing the Burlington native's goal of staying in excellent physical condition.

Doctors told Tom's father that malignant arrhythmia, an unknown heart condition, was the probable cause of death. Tom was working out at a local gym Friday a couple of hours before a Cougars home game when he collapsed.

Tom was employed by Caterpillar Finance as a major accounts manager.

In addition to his father, Tom is survived by his daughter, Joelle, mother Irene, grandmother Junne and sisters Jennifer and Christine.

Visitation is today (Wednesday) from 3-5 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. at Smith's Funeral Home, 1167 Guelph Line. A funeral mass will be held at St. Gabriel's Roman Catholic Church, 2261 Parkway Dr., in Burlington tomorrow (Thursday) at 10:30 a.m.